Swift looks to omnium to fulfil Olympic dream

Ben Swift admits he will look to the track in 2016 as he seeks to cement his Olympic dreams.

The 2012 scratch race world champion confirmed that competing in the road race in Rio would be unlikely and that instead he would turn his attentions to the omnium.

With Britain having won gold in the men’s team pursuit at the last two Olympic Games, Swift believes his best chances lie elsewhere.

And the 27-year-old, who recently finished fourth in his first omnium since February 2012, says he will sit down with the British Cycling management team and asses the best way to make an impact in Brazil.

Although for now his immediate target is the fast approaching road season and improving upon results like his third-place finish in Milan-San Remo.

“My full focus for the moment is back on the road, but you’re always planning the next few weeks and months ahead at the same time,” Swift told British Cycling.

“I don’t really want to go down the route of committing to a full-time track programme and it’s how riding the omnium would affect that.

“I need to look into it with the British Cycling management and coaches because of how dominant we have been in the team pursuit in the past.

“The first step was to get the experience of the new omnium format, to get some points on the board and the next step is to do another omnium with a lot more fitness, to be able to race it at 100% and go from there.

“Obviously the later into the season it is, the fitter I am going to be. I would like to treat an event like that like a mini target in itself.

“Beyond that, the world championships in London will be massive and it would nice to be a part of that. It’s very likely you’re going to be going to the Olympics if you’re at that event.”